pg.acq.push(function() { Actor William Smith | The Official Website | The Poetic Works of No cause of death was immediately made public. The roles he is most known for are Anthony Falconetti in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man,and he appeared in the original Hawaii Five-O television series from 1979-1980 as Detective James Kimo Carew. ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. So insanely violent for its time. Marvel Actor William Hurt Dead at 71: Cause of Death Revealed - Us Weekly Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. }); His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. In a career span of more than 75 years, Smith appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions. July 11, 2021 William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. A fan tweeted: "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies; played cowboys, brawlers - AP NEWS Market data provided by Factset. William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man." Died: July 5, 2021 ( Who else died on July 5?) In the 1976 television miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, he portrayed Anthony Falconetti, nemesis of the Jordache family, and reprised the role in the sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II. Having both CIA and NSA clearance, Smith made up his mind to enter a classified position with the US government, but while he was working on his doctorate studies he took on an acting contract with MGM. Those uncredited roles early in his career served as motivation for him to make it big, but Smith also did not give up on his schooling. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Mr. Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, amassing nearly . He was a polyglot, a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and an Air Force pilot during the Korean War, according to his website. American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. She declined to give the cause of death. 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Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. }); William Smith Dead: Action Actor of 'Laredo,' 'Rich Man, Poor Man' Was For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. Smith had three broken ribs, and Taylor had a broken nose. Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? The TV actor William Smith died at the age of 88. William Smith, the iconic tough-guy actor in "Hawaii Five-O" and "Laredo," died Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man.. Biography - A Short Wiki '50s television icon who was immortalized for his role as Paul Drake on over 250 episodes of the series, Perry Mason. Wayne Shorter (19332023), jazz saxophonist who co-founded Weather Irma Serrano (19332023), Mexicos La Tigresa singer and Ricou Browning (19302023), Creature from the Black Lagoons Jerry Richardson (19362023), Carolina Panthers founder, Wayne Shorter (19332023), jazz saxophonist who co-founded Weather Report, Irma Serrano (19332023), Mexicos La Tigresa singer and actress, Ricou Browning (19302023), Creature from the Black Lagoons Gill-man, Burny Mattinson (19352023), Disney animator for decades. }) Quoted by CNN, the New York Times, and Macleans. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Smith was infamously known for fighting with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, a 1980 movie. 'Laredo,' 'Any Which Way You Can' actor William Smith dead at 88 Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. The Duke and Duchess are not as 'stunned' about the . Here is all you want to know, and more! He was 88. [1], Smith died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles, on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. MovieWeb even states that Smith appeared in almost every TV series of the 1970s and 1980s, like"The Dukes of Hazzard" and "The A Team.". RIP, Big Bill. Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. A legend. Falconetti and William Smith. Throughout his life, he was interested in bodybuilding and boxing. She declined to give the cause of death. The Hollywood star William Smith who starred in TV shows including Hawaii Five-O and Rich Man, Poor Man and films including Any Which Way You Can and Conan The Barbarian has died aged 88. William Smith is just that. In the years from 1961 to 2014, Smith established himself as a highly prolific and profoundly talented character actor with roles in a diverse range of genres. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? The 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Another Twitter user said that Smith was "one of the all time greats," and it's true. Actor William Smith | The Official Website | The Poetic Works of Larry Karaszewski, a writer on "American Crime Story," tweeted out that Smith was such a "bad***" that he "thought he'd never die." In the 1980s, the 6-foot-2 actor earned roles in Francis Ford Coppolas The Outsiders, (1983) and in Conan the Barbarian (1982), for which he was cast as the father of Conan, who was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER, He would also play Arnold Schwarzenegger's father in 1982's "Conan the Barbarian," after being considered for the title role, and a Soviet general in 1984's "Red Dawn.". According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo,". William Smith, Action Actor and Star of 'Laredo' and 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' Dies at 88 The legendary tough guy appeared in biker movies and blaxpoitation pics and went toe-to-toe with Clint. Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, to William Emmett Smith and Emily Richards Smith, and grew up on the cattle ranch owned by his parents. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. In 1964, he appeared in the episode "The Rope of Lies" as Bill, a ranch hand from the Shiloh Ranch in the syndicated television series The Virginian. 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies at 88. . William Smith, 'Laredo' actor known for playing cowboys and brawlers William Smith, 'Rich Man, Poor Man' star, dead at 88 - New York Post But in an earlier starring role, Texas Ranger Joe Riley on the popular TV show Laredo, Smith was a good guy known for his strength. Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. Hes definitely tough as nails but he had the heart of a poet, she said. Rest in Peace, William Smith. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ The Columbia, Mo., native solidified his Hollywood status after tussling onscreen with actors like Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte and Yul Brynner. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. In Rich Man, Poor Man, he played the dangerous and eccentric character Anthony Falconetti, which he would later reprise in a follow-up to the series, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II.. News editor, Legacy.com. One of the great ones. The fight scenes with Nick and I were good ones. from a 2010 interview for BZ Film, Sad news coming through that the great William Smith has passed away aged 88. 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He also played Anthony Falconetti, the menacing nemesis of the central family in the 1976 ABC miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man," and returned for its sequel. Smith was 88 years old. William Hopper's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television shows including "Laredo," "Rich Man, . Hollywood actor William Smith, who has played the roles of bikers, brawlers, cowboys and tough guys in films and television shows like 'Laredo', 'Rich Man, Poor Man' and 'Any Which Way You Can' has died at the age of 88. Back in 1942, William started his professional career as an eight-year-old child actor in The Ghost of Frankenstein, according to Deadline. 226, Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 01:32, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, "William Smith, Action Star Known for His Onscreen Brawls, Dies at 88", "William Smith | Brilliant Classroom Characters: The Top 10 Wicked Smart Actors", "William Smith: My fight with Clint Eastwood was longest two-man fight scene on screen", "William Smith, Action Actor and Star of 'Laredo' and 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' Dies at 88", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Smith_(actor)&oldid=1142010105, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 01:32. She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". She did not reveal the cause of his death. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. Hawaii Five-O star William Smith dies at 88: Actor starred with if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Loved his performances as Joe Riley in the TV series #Laredo ('65-'67), & in particular in the season 2 episode, 'The Bitter Yen of General Ti,' with Irene Tsu. The Heartbreaking Death Of Action Star William Smith Smith is survived by his wife, son, William E. Smith III, and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. However, his first role was an uncredited one where he played a village boy in "The Ghost of Frankenstein" in 1942. One fan wrote, "Greatest TV villain ever, as a kid in the 70's everyone and their aunt hated the character of Falconetti that he brought to life in 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. It was the final season. After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in . He could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Smith appeared as heavy Terry Bartell in Darker than Amber in 1970. Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies; played cowboys, brawlers - 13abc R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. William Smith's Net Worth At The Time Of His Death May Surprise You